After being closed for several months, Dimbola Museum and Galleries in Freshwater is now open with a refurbished cafe and 2 new exhibitions in the galleries.
In the main gallery, now with new décor, the work of Marilyn Stafford is displayed. On a trip to New York, she was asked to photograph Albert Einstein by friends who were making a film documentary about him. This started Marilyn’s photographic career.
Her portfolio of work spans 1948 – 1980 and her portraits include those of Edith Piaf, Lee Marvin, Sir Richard Attenborough and Joanna Lumley.
Marilyn’s fashion plates date from the 1950s in Paris (mostly on the streets on the city) before transferring to London during the ‘swinging London’ scene. Memorable fashion shots include the ‘ballerina look,’ an example of a wedding dress plus a mirror image of a model featuring a reflection of the photographer herself.
Twiggy is the subject of one photo and an image of a Biba model wearing a lace maxi dress contrasts with a pair of brief ladies shorts or ‘hot-pants’ as they were named, in another shot.
In the second exhibition, Andrea Muendelein uses 4×5 inch Polaroid images taken on a large format camera. She is an Associate Lecturer and student mentor at the University of the Arts, London.
With new decor and equipment and now COVID-19 spaced tables, the cafe is open for business with new menus to suit all tastes. Outside the gardens have been transformed with new tables and chairs and tastefully laid out with flowers and plants.
In the gallery, supported by Solo, the artefacts and photographs depicting the Isle of Wight Festivals have been refreshed.
The 2 new exhibitions by Marilyn Stafford and Andrea Muendelein run until the end of the year.
